Oar-lock



(No Mqael.) 4 sneetsheen 2.

A. STBVEN'SON.

OAR LOOK. l

l No. 552,673. Patented Jan. 7, 18915;V

QNo Model.) 4 SheetsAf-Sheet 3. A. STEVENSON.

OAR LUCK. y

Patented Jan. '7, V1896.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. STEVE N.

OAR L0 Patented Jan. 7, 1896.

llNiTnn STATES PATENT @Erica AUGUSTUS "FEVENSON, OF KITTERY, MAINE.

OAR-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,673, dated January 7, 1896. Application filed February 19, 1895. Serial No. 539,027. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUsrUs STEvENsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Kittery, in the county of York, in the State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ships boats having a wash-strake, and is especially adapted to ships boats in the naval service, including barges, gigs, cutters, and whale-boats.

The objects of this invention are to provide a strong and durable oar-lock, to render the oars noiseless and impart a spring action thereto, and to increase the capacity of the boat in case of shipwreck or other emergency which demands the carrying of an extraordie nary load.

In ships boats belonging to the United States Navy, an oar-lock is used consisting of a U-shaped metallic plate which is placed between two wooden standards attached to the side of the boat and extended above the gunwale. Such an oar-lock is objectionable for the reason that the standards are oftentimes broken off when the oar gets caught alongside a wharf, vessel, or other object. It is also objectionable on account of its eX- pense, since it requires a considerable amount of skilled labor to make and fit the wooden standards and then to fit the metallic plate or oar-lock proper into position between said standards.

This invention consists, first, in an oarlock of peculiar construction which can be readily applied, which will withstand the sevcrest strain to which oar-locks are subjected, andwhich in durability will ontlast the boat itself and can be transferred from an old boat to a new one and used over and over again.

The invention consists7 further, in the means for muffling the oars, whereby they are rendered absolutely silent, and whereby also a spring action is imparted thereto which increases the speed of the boat.

The invention also consists in a chock adapted to close the oar-lock opening watertight and raise the water-line above the gunwale proper onto the wash-strake, whereby in case of emergency the boat is adapted to receve a larger number of passengers.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of the outer face of a fragment of one side of a ships boat containing this oar-lock. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the inner face thereof. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the inner face thereof, the chock for closing the oar-lock opening being in position in the oar-lock. Fig. 4 represents a top plan of said fragment containing this oar-lock without the chock. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section thereof on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents aperspective'view of the inner member of this oar -lock. Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of the outer member thereof. Fig. S represents a perspective view of the elastic cushion therefor. Fig. 9 represents a transverse section of one limb of the cushion on line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 represents a transverse section thereof on line l0 l0 of Fig. S. Fig. ll represents a transverse section of the cushion at the bottom thereof on line ll 1l of Fig. S. Fig. l2 represents a central vertical transverse section of the chock for closing the oar-lock opening. Fig. 13 represents a central vertical longitudinal section of said chock.

The same reference-numbers indicate the same parts in all the figures.

This oar-lock comprises three principal parts, to wit: an inner metallic member 20, an outer metallic member 50,and an intermediate india-rubber cushion 60. The chock 70 for closing the oar-lock opening is also an important feature in case of shipwreck, or when the boat is under sail.

The inner member 20 comprises a U -shaped body, a horizontal base 2l adapted to rest on the gunwale, tanks 22 and 23 extending downward from the outer edge of said base for attachment to the side of the boat, and dowir ward lips 24 and 25 at the inner edge of said base for clamping the gunwale. The U- shaped body of this inner member is provided with a concave groove 26, extending throughout said body on its outer face. The horizontal base is provided with an outwardly-projecting ear 27, with which a lug of the outer member engages, and the vertical portions of said body are provided with lugs 28, 29, 3l and 32, which engage said outer member when ISO the latter is in position. The Aupright parts of said inner member are provided at their upper ends with horizontal flanges 33 and 34, which extend over the upper ends of the rubber cushion and the upper ends of the outer member, said iianges being provided with holes 35 and 36 through which screws project into the upper end of the outer member for holding the latter in position. The body of the inner member is provided with holes 37 38, 39 and 41 for screws, bolts or other devices. The lips 24 and 25 also have holes, as 42 and 43, and the tangs 22 and 23 are provided with holes 44 and 45.

The outer member 50 is U-shaped in general contour and is provided on its inner face with a concave groeve 5l, which registers with the groove 26 of the inner member and constitutes therewith a bulging chamber for receiving the rubber cushion, and retaining it in place. The horizontal portion of this member is provided with a lug 52 engaging the ear 27 of the inner member when the parts are in position. The limbs of the outer member are slightly shorter than those of the inner member and shut under the flanges and 34 of the latter and are provided at their upper ends with screw-threaded holes 53 and 54 to receive the screws which pass through said flanges. The outer member is thus held firmly in place against both vertical and lateral pressure of the cushion and its lug 52 cannot become disengaged from the step or ear H7.

The rubber cushion GO is U-shaped in general contour and provided with a rounded rib 61 on its outer edge and with grooves G2 and G3 on its opposite sides between said rib and the body. This cushion is preferably composed of pure soft rubber vulcanized in the 'form shown. The body thereof tapers in width and in thickness in order that a tight joint may be formed between it and the chock when the latter is inserted in the car-lock opening, being thickest and widest at the base or horizontal portion and thinnest and narrowest at its upper ends. The rib is preferably of the same cross-section throughout.

The chock 7 O for closing the oar-lock opening comprises a body 7l, preferably in the form of a solid block adapted to fit the cushioned opening of the oar-lock and flanges 72 and 73, disposed on opposite sides of said block and extending parallel with the faces thereof along the vertical and bottom edges, said iianges shutting over the sides of the rubber cushion and forming tight joints therewith when the chock is in position. The block is preferably composed of wood or cork and may be slightly tapered or wedge-shaped to fit the tapering shape of the oar-lock cushion. The fianges 72 and 73 consist when constructed as shown of overhanging extensions of metallic face-plates 74 and 75, which cover the opposite faces of the block and are preferably connected by an integral strip which extends over the top of the block. These metallic faceplates may be attached tothe block by means of screws 7 G and 77 on opposite sides thereof. The chock is preferably provided with an eye 7 3, bythe aid of which it may be fastened in position in the oar-lock opening. The space between the overhanging iange 72 of the inner side of the chock and the over-hanging flange 73 of the outer side thereof varies, being wider at the bottom and narrow at the top to fit the tapering thickness of the rubber cushion.

In applying' this oar-lock to a ships boat the gunwale SO is first fitted but not fastened to the boat and the location of the oar-locks marked thereon. The gunwale is then taken out and the inner member of the oar-lock adjusted thereon, so that the tangs 22 and 23 rest against the outer vertical side thereof. The gunwale is then marked to indicate the slots for the tangs and said member removed. Slots ormortises are then cut in the outer face of the gunwale for the passage of the tangs. The gunwale is then placed in position on the shi ps boat and fastened. The tangs 22 and 23 of the inner member 2O are then passed through the slots in the gunwale and the said member driven'down until the base 2l rests on the gunwale and the lips 24 and 25 engage the inner face thereof. The tangs 22 and 23 are then fastened to the top strake 3l of the boat, preferably by means of screws or rivets passing through the holes 44 and 45 in said tangs and taking into said strake. Screws or rivets are also passed through the lips 24 and 25 into the gunwale. lf desired, the said lips maybe dispensed with and screws passed through the horizontal base or flan ge of the inner member 2O into the top of the gunwale; but it is preferable to construct the device with the lips which hook over the gunwale. The member 2O being thus fixed on the boat, the rubber cushion 60 is made to contact with the outer member 50, having one side of its rib 6l inthe groove 5l of said member. The lug 52 on the horizontal portion of the outer member is insertedv in the ear or step 27, which projects outward from the horizontal portion of the inner member 20. Then the outer member is swung in toward or against the outer face of the inner member, shutting between the lugs 23 and 29 on one limb thereof and the lugs 3l and 32 on the other limb thereof. The rubber cushion is thus firmly clamped between said members, its rim resting in the conca-ve chamber formed by the grooves therein. The inner edges or lips of both members rest in the grooves 62 and 63 between the body and rib of the cushion.

The rib of the cushion is of such width and thickness as to require some considerable pressure to bring the upper ends of the outer member 50 into position, and when the parts are pressed together the cushion is tightly clamped between them. 'When the holes 53 and 54 in the upper ends of the outer member 50 register with the holes 35 and 36 in the IOO IIO

overhangiug iianges of the inner member 20, j

screws are passed through said flanges into the inner member and the latter is firmly fastened in position. Screws or rivets are passed through the holes 37, 38, 3f) and 4l in the body of the inner member into the ends of the wash-strake 82 adjacent to the oarlock. In this construction there is not much strain upon the wash-strake,the members be-` ing connected together independently of said strake and being wholly supported by the gunwale and top strake. The oar-lock when thus applied is perfectly firm and will outlast the boat, and when the boat is worn out it can be transferred to another boat.

The rubber cushion GO tends to impart a spring action or elastic resistance to the oar, which increases the speed of the boat,besides preventing wear of the oar and serving as an absolute muffle thereto.

A number of rubber cushions will be carried among the ships stores, and when one is worn out the outer member of the oar-lock can be readily taken out and the worn cushion removed and a new one put in its place.

In case of shipwreck or other emergency when the utmost capacity of the ships boat is required, or when under sail, chooks 70 are placed in the oar-lock openings of said boat and serve to securely close said openings water-tight. This tight closing of the oar-locks in an ordinary twenty-eight foot cutter enables such a boat to carry eight or ten more persons in case of necessity. The chocks are provided at their tops with ordinary swivel oar-locks 7 9 for use on such occasions in rowing. A lanyard 90 is extended from the eye 78 of the chock to an eye 91 in the top strake and serves to tie or fasten the chock in place. The body of the chock may form a tight joint with the cushion and each of the flanges forms a tight joint with one of the faces of the cushion so there are three tight joints between the chock and the oar-lock to prevent the ingress of water should the wash-strake be submerged above the lower part of the row-lock opening.

I claim as my inventionl. An oar-lock consisting of a U-shaped body provided with integral downwardly extending tangs adapted to project below the gunwale for attachment to the side of the boat.

2. An oar-lock consisting of a U-shaped body provided with downwardly projecting fangs integral therewith and adapted to eX- tend below the gunwale and with` a flange adapted to rest on the gunwale.

3. An oar-lock consisting of a U-shaped body provided with integral downward tangs adapted to extend below the gunwale, and with a iiange adapted to rest on the gunwale, said flange being provided with a downward lip adapted to grasp the gunwale.

et. An oar-lock comprising two U -shaped members,one of which is detachable from the other, and an india rubber cushion clamped between said members and lining the oarlock opening.

5. An oar-lock comprising two U-shaped members provided with concave grooves on' their adjacent faces forming a hollow chainber around the oar-lock opening, and a rubber cushion lining said oar-lock opening and having a rib disposed in said chamber and clamped by said members.

6. An india rubber cushion for oar-locks consisting of a U -shaped body provided with a rib on its outer edge for attachment to the oar-lock.

'7. An india rubber cushion for an oar-lock consisting of a U -shaped body provided with a rib on its outer edge for attachment to the oar-lock, and with grooves between said rib and body.

8. In an oar-lock the combination of two U- shaped bodies, one of which is provided at its lower part with a step and at its upper part with lateral flanges, the other having a lug at its lower part adapted to fit said step, and fastening devices passing through the flanges of one memberinto the tops of the other member.

9. In an oar-lock,the combination of two .U

shaped bodies one of which is provided with side lugs for engaging the other member, and a bottom ear, and the other with a lug adapted to engage said ear, and fastening devices uniting the tops of said members.

10. In an oar-lock,the combination of two U shaped bodies one of which is lprovided with side lugs for engaging the other member, and a bottom step and the other member being provided with a lug adapted to engage said step, an india rubber cushion held between said members, and fastening devices uniting the tops of said members.

1l. A detachable chock adapted to iit an oarlock opening consisting of a body provided with fianges extending beyond its opposite faces for engaging the opposite sides of the oar-lock.

12. The combination of an oar-lock provided with a rubber cushion and a chock for closing the oar-lock opening provided with flanges on its bottom and opposite sides adapted to engage said cushion.

13. The combination of an oar-lock provided with a U -shaped rubber cushion which tapers in width from its bottom upward, and a chock for closing the oar-lock opening provided with flanges extending beyond its opposite faces, said flanges being slightly converged toward the upper part of the block.

14. A chock consisting of a body tapering in width toward its lower end and tapering in thickness toward its upper end, and provided with iianges on its opposite faces for engaging the opposite sides of the oar-lock.

15. A chockfor closing an oar-lock opening consisting of a body provided with flanges ex- Ioo tending beyond its opposite faces, and an eye chock fol1 closing the opening thereof, and L Io supplemental oar-lock mounted in sai d chock.

18. A chock for closing an oar-lock opening` provided with it supplemental oar-lock.

AUGUSTUS STEVENSON.

Vtnesses:

IRA A. COLEMAN, ERNEST L. GUPTILL. 

